options(digits) (PR#1879)

[gordong@epa.nsw.gov.au]

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Apologies for bothering you about a fairly trivial matter. I have been
getting some inconsistencies with the display digits in R V1.5.  I have been
using the hypergeometric distribution function, and have found that when
printing out the results from this function the display does not seem to
correspond to the number of digits requested in the options settings. Maybe
this indicates that the vector hasn't been generated in the proper way, or
something, but I thought I'd report it all the same.

[Previously saved workspace restored]

> sqrt(2)
[1] 1.414214
> options(digits=4)
> sqrt(2)
[1] 1.414
> options(digits=3)
> for(j in 1:30){temp[j]<-sum(dhyper(0:6, j, 30 - j, 6)[3:7])}
> temp
 [1] 0.0000 0.0345 0.0936 0.1691 0.2543 0.3438 0.4333 0.5195 0.6002 0.6736
[11] 0.7389 0.7956 0.8437 0.8835 0.9157 0.9410 0.9603 0.9744 0.9844 0.9912
[21] 0.9954 0.9979 0.9992 0.9998 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000
> sqrt(2)
[1] 1.41
> temp
 [1] 0.0000 0.0345 0.0936 0.1691 0.2543 0.3438 0.4333 0.5195 0.6002 0.6736
[11] 0.7389 0.7956 0.8437 0.8835 0.9157 0.9410 0.9603 0.9744 0.9844 0.9912
[21] 0.9954 0.9979 0.9992 0.9998 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000
> options(digits=4)
> temp
 [1] 0.00000 0.03448 0.09360 0.16913 0.25435 0.34383 0.43330 0.51954 0.60018
[10] 0.67361 0.73889 0.79558 0.84368 0.88352 0.91571 0.94100 0.96026 0.97443
[19] 0.98444 0.99116 0.99540 0.99788 0.99917 0.99976 0.99996 1.00000 1.00000
[28] 1.00000 1.00000 1.00000
> sqrt(2)
[1] 1.414
> x<-sqrt(2)
> x
[1] 1.414

While I'm writing, I'd like to thank all of you who are working on this R
project. I think it is very valuable work. I have a friend who after working
as a computer consultant for many years had to retire after having a stroke
which left him unaffected mentally but without the use of his left hand. He
now lives on an invalid pension, and has gone back to doing scientific work
in his retirement. There is no way he could afford commercial software. R
has given him the tools to do good quality graphics as required by journal
editors without which he would not have got his papers published. There must
be many people who have something to contribute but who work outside
institutions and don't have the means to purchase commercial licences. And
Third World countries should benefit greatly.

						Regards,

							Geoff Gordon

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